Hepata*Trope® is a comprehensive formula combining selected herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that are known to support liver function and provide protection for this vital organ. The largest of the internal organs, it weighs approximately 2.5 to 3 pounds. The liver is suspended behind the ribs on the upper right side of the abdomen and spans almost the entire width of the body. The liver has a variety of functions it performs in the human body, ranging from metabolism of various compounds, glycogen storage, decomposition of inactive red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production and inactivation, and blood filtration and detoxification. The liver along with the gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines all work together to digest, process and absorb the nutrients from food.

Fat or adipose tissue is used as energy storage for the body. When other sources of energy such as carbohydrates are low, the body will call on the liver to metabolize lipids into energy. The liver can remove fatty acids from the diet or from deposits in the body. Through degradation and oxidation of the long carbon chains of the fatty acid molecule, the liver will produce smaller compounds that are used for energy production at the cellular level. Lipotropic factors such as those found in Hepata*Trope® can assist with lipid metabolism and prevent abnormal accumulation of fats in the liver.

When hormone levels reach a certain concentration in the blood and are no longer being absorbed and utilized by their target tissues, they must be deactivated and excreted from the body through a process that is facilitated by the liver. Enzymes in the liver deactivate hormones and conjugate these metabolites in order for them to be excreted by the kidneys. Conjugation is a process of converting a fat soluble molecule into a hydrophilic, or water soluble, metabolite that can be easily excreted in urine at high concentrations. Estrogen and other steroid hormones can be carcinogenic if their levels are too high and are not properly eliminated from the body. The ingredients in Hepata*Trope® can keep the liver healthy and maintain its performance of these essential functions.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is used in Europe as both an over-the-counter and prescription medication to treat a variety of liver ailments. According to medical literature published overseas, the herb has been used successfully in treating hepatitis and reversing liver damage caused by cirrhosis, drugs and toxins (without side effects). Milk Thistle containscontaining an array of flavonoidfiavonoid compounds and exhibits hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and hepatocyte regeneration properties.; This special herb also helps as well as helping to regulate the inflammatoryinfiammatory response in the liver.

In addition to the protective and regenerative properties of the Milk Thistle herb, Scientific Bio-Logics’ Hepata*Trope® formula also combines specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbs, that are targeted for lipid metabolism and optimal liver function. These nutrients aid the liver and gall bladder in the metabolism of lipids and cholesterol as well as the conjugation of hormones such as estradiol.

Choline, considered one of the B vitamins, functions with inositol as a basic constituent of lecithin. Choline combines with fatty acid chains and phosphoric acid within the liver to form lecithin or phosphatidylcholine. It is associated primarily with utilization of fats and lipids in the body. It prevents fats from accumulating in the liver and facilitates their transportation to other tissues throughout the body through vesicles made of phospholipids called lipoproteins. It also improves liver and gallbladder function and helps prevent gallstones (3).

Inositol, like choline, is a constituent of lecithin, which is needed to transport fats from the liver to other tissues. High intake of caffeine may create an inositol shortage in the body (3).

Homocysteine is an amino acid produced in the body that can cause oxidation towards low density lipoproteins. Studies have shown an association between elevated levels of homocysteine and cardiovascular disease. During protein digestion in the body, amino acids such as Methionine gets released. Homocysteine is an intermediate in the production of methionine and there are two biochemical pathways that convert homocysteine to a non-harmful amino acid. One of these biochemical pathways contains an enzyme that requires Vitamin B-6 to convert homocysteine back into the amino acid cysteine. The second pathway converts homocysteine to methionine and is dependent on Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid being present. The coenzyme of vitamin B-12 is a carrier of methyl groups and hydrogen and is necessary for carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. Because of its methyl transfer role, vitamin B-12 is active in the synthesis of the amino acid methionine from its precursor, homocysteine. The coenzyme transfers methyl groups from methyl folate, a derivative of folic acid, to homocysteine thereby forming methionine. Because methionine is needed in choline synthesis, B-12 plays a secondary role in the phospholipid biosynthesis. A choline deficiency that causes fatty liver can be prevented by vitamin B-12, as well as other methyl donors such as betaine, methionine, and folic acid (3).

PABA, para-aminobenzoic acid, stimulates intestinal bacteria growth, enabling them to produce folic acid and pantothenic acid which can be absorbed through the intestines.

Pantothenic Acid is a component of coenzyme A, an essential coenzyme in the generation of energy from carbohydrates, fat and protein. Coenzyme A is also involved in the synthesis and metabolism of lipids, cholesterol and steroid hormones.

Magnesium is necessary for coenzyme A to carry out its various chemical reactions. The mineral has been shown to enhance enzymatic activity in the liver (4). Such vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lower coenzyme A activity (1). Magnesium in case studies has been credited with dissolving gallstones (7). Alcohol consumption increases the dietary need for magnesium by threefold (4).

Celandine is primarily used as a liver-detoxifying herb for the treatment of hepatitis, jaundice, cancer, psoriasis, eczema and skin problems (9).

Beet Leaves have been found to increase bile flow and also aids carbohydrate and fat metabolism (7). Betaine is a source of methyl groups. It is used in the liver for the detoxification of free radicals and other reactive by-products like homocysteine (7).

Methionine acts as a methyl donor and antioxidant in liver tissues and aids healing and detoxification of these tissues (7). Its primary lipotropic function is to prevent excess fat accumulations in the liver by increasing lecithin production (8).

Supports healthy liver function, promotes detoxification, aids in lipid and cholesterol metabolism, and provides protection against oxidative damage.